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Aboriginal Practice Placements

Learning activities around promoting Aboriginal Peoples’ health are threaded throughout the BScN curriculum starting in Year 1. Students in the TRU nursing program are also able to choose to work in practice placements with Aboriginal individuals, groups, and communities. The majority of these practice opportunities are available in semesters 6-8. In addition, students will encounter clients who are of Aboriginal heritage everywhere within the health care system.

Some of the many practice placements to choose from include:

Anahim Lake Nursing Station
Bella Coola Hospital
Esketemc Health Centre
Fort Nelson First Nation
Kamloops Interior Indian Friendship Society
Lytton Health Centre
Namgis First Nations Health Centre
Q’wemstin Health Society
Sexqeltqin Health Centre
Simpcw Health Centre
Upper Nicola Health and Wellness Centre
White Buffalo Aboriginal Health Society
Resource Center
Xeni Gwet’in Health Services.

Practice Opportunities

Examples of student practice opportunities in Semesters 6 and 7:

Jaymie Beblow and Dellie Skutar (2010). Breast health initiative with the Upper Nicola Band.
Alicia Barker, Sandi Rogers, and Kim Wyle (2010). Aboriginal Health Network: Aboriginal Discharge Planning Checklist.
Ashley Sankey, Venetia Ho Chen, Tanya Saran, (2010). Diabetes in Aboriginal peoples: The Need for Primary Prevention
Caroline Boak, Rosemary Ritcey, and Kimberly Wyle. (2009). Upper Nicola First Nations Youth: Exploring Post Secondary Education.
Jane Coombs and Chelsea Jansen. (2008). Aboriginal Student Success with Simpcw First Nation

Course development is currently underway to develop a 3 credit elective in Aboriginal Health Nursing and to formalize an Aboriginal health nursing focus for NURS 3380, and NURS 4380. Presently students should speak with nursing faculty about the availability of an immersion experience in collaboration with North Island College Nursing and the transferability of several other Aboriginal Health theory courses from other institutions.